It is normal to have engine oil and some varnish on the camshaft sensor actuator

RANDALL729

MEMBER
2008 CHEVROLET COLORADO
2.9L
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
158,000 MILES

I removed the camshaft sensor actuator to inspect it. Is it common for it to have engine oil and some varnish on it? Does this sensor affect the starting of the engine? I cleaned off the varnish and replaced the sensor back in. Thank you.

Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 9:28 AM

3 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,577 POSTS

Completely normal as the camshaft is constantly being oiled by the valve-train. The sensor is also in that same oil path. It depends on which cam sensor you are talking about. There are the ones for the VVT system that tell the computer what degree the camshafts are at as the system operates and there is the base cam sensor that tells the ECM which cylinder is where, that one works with the crankshaft sensor to alter timing and can effect the way the engine starts. However, it will also set a code if it's a problem. No real reason to remove it unless it is showing a related code.

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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 11:10 AM

RANDALL729

MEMBER
59 POSTS

Steve. Thank you very much. The truck seems to start better cold. And doesn't seem to stall out while running it. I was beginning to think a timing chain problem but putting this on hold. The sensor was the one on right side upper location of the engine and very accessible. It was metal with screens.

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Friday, July 5th, 2019 AT 9:13 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,577 POSTS

Okay, that would be the actuator itself. It is the part that changes the cam timing using oil pressure so it has oil going through it whenever the engine is running.
Starting better cold sounds more like a vacuum leak. Is the CEL on?

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Saturday, July 6th, 2019 AT 7:27 AM